The Coat-Of-Arms of the "Keegan" Family

The Coat-Of-Arms of the "Keegan" Family

In this blog we will discuss the history of Heraldry and all its symbolism. Each week we will showcase a Coat-Of-Arms. Give a written description (blazon) of the coat, it's particulars and where we obtained the information for that coat.

This weeks showcased coat-of-arms will be the surname 'Keegan' from Ireland. Information for this coat-of-arms was found in 'HPS Surname Data Base'.

ARMS: Gules (red) a lion rampant argent (silver) holding in his dexter paw a crescent of the last (silver) in chief a ducal coronet or (gold)

CREST: A dexter hand holding a sheaf of three arrows all proper

MOTTO: NON IMPARATUM (Never Unprepared)

Lets break this down. We will start with the arms: 

GULES (Red): The term is probably derived from the Arabic gule, a red rose; introduced by the Crusaders. Some historians feel the word is derived from the Latin gula, which in old French is found as gueule, i.e. the "red throat of an animal." Others, again, have tried to find the origin in the Hebrew word gulade, which signifies red cloth. Symbolizes a warrior or martyr; military strength and magnanimity. 

LION: An emblem of majesty, strength, and justice, military might and deathless courage, the Lion was indeed a foe to fear. The French heralds call the lion passant a leopard; accordingly Napoleon said to his soldiers, "Let us drive these leopards (the English) into the sea." In heraldry any Lion not rampant is often called a lion leopardé. The Lion is also an emblem of the resurrection; according to tradition, the lion's whelp is born dead, and remains so for three days, when the father breathes on it and it receives life. Another tradition is that the Lion is the only animal of the cat tribe born with its eyes open, and it is said that it sleeps with its eyes open; although not completely true the Lion does sleep watchfully and lightly. The Lion in the arms of Scotland is derived from the arms of the ancient Earls of Northumberland and Huntingdon, from whom some of the Scottish monarchs were descended. The Lions in the arms of England: They are three Lions passant guardant, i.e. walking and showing the full face. The first Lion was that of Rollo, Duke of Normandy, and the second represented the country of Maine, which was added to Normandy. These were the two Lions borne by William the Conqueror and his descendants. Henry II added a third Lion to represent the Duchy of Aquitaine, which came to him through his wife Eleanor. Commonly referred to as "the KING of the beasts," it is a symbol of kingly power and might, but as the lioness it is commonly related to the Great Mother and to protection. 

ARGENT (fr.): The tincture silver. By those who emblazon according to the planetary system it is represented by the Moon, just as the tincture of gold is represented by the Sun. Hence it is sometimes fancifully called Luna in the arms of princes, as also Pearl in those of peers. As silver soon becomes tarnished, it is generally represented in painting by white. In engraving it is known by the natural color; and in tricking by the letter a. In the doubling of mantles it may be called white, because(as the old heralds say) it is not in that case to be taken for a metal, but the skin of a little beast called a Litvite. Sometimes, too, in old rolls of arms the term blanc is used.

DEXTER: Right side of the coat looking out or the right hand, paw, leg, etc.

CRESCENT (or increscent): Said to signify one who has been enlightened and honored by the gracious aspect of his sovereign; symbol of 'hope and greater glory'.

DUKE'S CROWN: A circle of gold richly chased, and having upon its upper edge eight strawberry-leaves; only five are shown in the drawing, two of them being in profile. The cap is of crimson velvet lined with white taffeta and turned up with ermine. At the top is a gold tassel. A coronet without the cap, and showing but three leaves, is called a Ducal (or Crest) coronet, and frequently a Ducal crown. Rarely a ducal coronet is shown with cap.

Now the crest:

DEXTER: Right side of the coat looking out or the right hand, paw, leg, etc.

HAND, (fr. main): The human hand is often borne in coat armour, though only one instance has been observed in the early rolls, and that only incicental. When no other position is mentioned it is understood to be apaume, as in the arms of Ulster, which came to be the badge of a baronet of Great Britain; it is borne either on an escutcheon or canton. Other wise the hand may be borne dorsed (or, as it sis sometimes called, aversant); or it may be in fesse, or with the fingers downwards, or clenched, or holding some object; the hand is generally couped at the wrist, and is so represented if no other description is given; sometimes, howerver , the blazon runs couped below, or above the wrist; generally a dexter hand is named, and it is so understood unless a sinister is specified; hands in armour should rather be blazoned gauntlets.

SHEAF: May refer to a sheaf of arrows called a quiver or a sheaf of wheat or corn also called a garb.

PROPER: In heraldry the term proper describes a charge represented in its natural color.

MEANING OF NAME: Reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Aodhagáin ‘son of Aodhagán’, a personal name that is a pet form of the ancient Irish personal name Aodh ‘fire’.

Next week we will showcase the coat-of-arms of 'Banburg"

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